Oct 20, 2009 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

DUNBAR – The solicitor for borough council confirmed Monday that state police are conducting an investigation regarding an alleged shortage of funds from the municipality over the last three years. Doug Sepic provided council with an overview of the investigative procedure after resident Peggy Zadell asked if police filed charges against anyone and the status of the investigation.

Zadell, whose name will appear on the ballot in the upcoming general election after capturing her party’s nomination in the May primary, said she was aware of the shortage prior to an audit completed by Charles Kantorik for January 2006 to June of this year because there allegedly were missing checks.

In an unrelated matter, Mayor John Williams asked council for a $2 per hour wage increase for the borough’s two police officers for the remainder of the year that would take them to $11.

According to Williams, the increase would average to about $480 and would be covered under the budget if the police worked their allotted time until the end of December.

Williams noted the borough has a third police officer that worked one day; however, he has not been able to reach him since.

Williams said he asked for the increase after comparing the borough’s $9 per hour rate with that of police officers in neighboring municipalities, which earn between $11 and $11.50 per hour.

Patrick Fitzgerald, council president, referred the matter to the police committee since they generally determine their wages after a 60-day probation.

Turning to other business, council had a lengthy debate on a 1969 animal ordinance involving the ownership of chickens in the borough after hearing from residents Robin Beal and Kathy Dynes, who spoke on behalf of 85-year-old resident “Junior” Anderson after Beal said he was imposed a $1,000 fine for having the animals by health officer Rita Bornstein.

Beal said she felt Anderson fell under a grandfather clause from 1964, when council verbally approved he and three other residents, two of them who are now deceased, could keep chickens, horses and cattle on their property.

While council passed an updated ordinance in 2008 to the opposite effect, Beal claimed it was never signed or attested to.

Sepic provided input regarding the use of the ordinance under zoning and safety while two other residents are known to have chickens.

Council agreed to leave the current ordinance status quo since no particular problems have been reported.

Council also approved to change Connellsville Street Extension to a one-way street in an effort to curb speeding and reckless driving at the request of resident Carols Berrios.